School Photographs

20th Century Photographs

These very early Chester school photographs are fascinating to look at not just to see the children and teachers style of clothing but also the demeanour of the children and the school buildings they were taught in. It's perhaps sad to see these young expectant faces as they stare out of the photograph at us today but also heartening to think that through the medium of these pages there is still some tangible evidence of their youthful hope and expectation.

		My father Sydney Holland is pictured here looking rather intimidated by the very stern looking School Mistress standing at the rear of the classroom. My father was at All Saints between 1915 and 1922. All Saints Church of England Boys School which opened in 1870 was in School Street, Hoole and and closed in 1955.
All Saints Boys School, Hoole, Chester C 1918

		A playground photograph of my father. His school reports between 1919 1nd 1923 show that the Headmaster of All Saints School was a Thomas J Boughton. Class teachers were noted as being Herbert Wollam, C Molyneux and M W Loam.
All Saints Boys School, Hoole, Chester C 1920


		This school report for my father Sydney Holland is for the 1922 mid-summer term at All Saints Boys School in Hoole, Chester. He would no doubt be very gratified to know that his first place in the class was still being recognised some 88 years later !
1922 School Report


		This photo shows a 1920 school group photo with my Aunt Vera Holland. The name of the school is uncertain but is probably Hoole Junior & Infants in Westminster Road, Hoole, Chester which opened in 1912.
Hoole Junior & Infants c 1920


		This photo from around 1928 shows my wife's half sisters Nessie, Edie and Olive Griffith at "Olive Street School" in Chester. The school, which was officially called St Michael's with St Olaves in St Olave Street, was opened in 1879 and closed in 1941. I'm reliably informed by their last surviving sister Rene that they are wearing hats known as "Tams" short for Tam 'O Shanters.
Olive St School, Chester c 1928


		This photo shows my wife's half sister Nessie Griffith at Olive St School, Chester around 1924.
Olive St School, Chester c 1924


		From about 1927 and not looking exactly the happiest campers are Nessie and Olive Griffith pictured again at Olive Street School, Chester.
Olive St School, Chester c 1927


		This heavily damaged photograph shows my wife's Uncle, Joseph McMahon at Cherry Grove School, Great Boughton, Chester in about 1928. Cherry Grove school in Cherry Grove Road opened in 1910 as an infants and junior school and is still going strong today.
Cherry Grove School, Chester c 1928


		This playground photo shows my wife's Uncle Fred McMahon at Cherry Grove School in Chester about 1927
Cherry Grove School, Chester c 1927


		Another Cherry Grove School photo dating to around 1927 showing my wife's Uncle Fred McMahon.
Cherry Grove School, Chester c 1927


		This very old school photograph from around 1900 shows a class of all girls with their school master and mistresses. The date can only be guessed at from the girls dresses which are full length and look quite uncomfortable to sit in on a hot summers day. The original photograph revealed very little and it is a testament to Adobe Photoshop that at least we can now see something of those young faces, now long gone, staring out at us.
Faces from the past c 1900


		This photograph shows the Standard 5 Class of mostly boys at Handbridge School, Chester in 1906. Featured in this photo is Thomas Griffith - my wife's father.
Handbridge School, Chester 1906